Project 10073 Record Card and Intelligence Division Report — 10 September 1952

This document comprises an intelligence report (IR-556-52) and associated Project 10073 record cards regarding an Unidentified Flying Object sighting on 10 September 1952. The primary witness, a civilian woman residing at 1 Dangerfield Drive in Clinton, Maryland, reported observing a shiny, metallic, elliptical object at approximately 1430 hours EDT. The witness, who is the wife of a civilian employee at Andrews Air Force Base, described the object as having no visible exhaust and emitting no sound. She estimated the object's size to be roughly that of a half-dollar held at a considerable height, with an elevation of approximately 70 degrees. The object reportedly moved rapidly back and forth over a short arc for two to three minutes before rising rapidly and disappearing in a northwesterly direction. The report notes that the witness's husband, a former air intelligence officer during World War II, assisted in reporting the incident, though he noted his wife had limited knowledge of aircraft capabilities. Intelligence Division personnel at Andrews AFB conducted a follow-up investigation, including checks with radar and tower operators at Washington National Airport and Andrews AFB, all of which yielded negative results. Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear with eight miles of visibility and calm winds. No upper air observations were being conducted locally at the time of the sighting, though ravin-sonde releases and pibal observations were conducted earlier and later in the day. The final evaluation by the Intelligence Division categorized the object as 'Possibly Aircraft,' though the evidence remained inconclusive.